Sony UP-CR10L - Manual (Page 8)

Sony Dye Sublimation Printing Technology
One of the key benefits of dye sublimation printing is the wide range
of colour reproduction that the technology makes possible. The
SnapLab uses this printing method to maximum effect, producing
brilliant, crisp and clear colour prints.
Dye sublimation printing produces truly photographic-quality prints
thanks to a unique process: ink is converted into a gas by each heat
element on the thermal head which can apply 256 different densities.
This produces incredibly rich colours with a tonal range of up to 256
gradations. These gradations are used to reproduce the tonal
changes and neutral colours that are vital for creating photo-quality
prints.
Each of the dye colours – cyan, magenta and yellow – has a tone
range of up to 256 gradations, and Sony dye sublimation printing
blends each and every one of them to make true full-colour prints.
Other printing methods, such as inkjet, cannot gradate each dot or
blend the colour dots – that’s why they simply can’t achieve the
same results.
Sony dye sublimation printing technology is also environmentally-
friendly. Liquid chemicals are not used, so there’s no chemical waste
to be disposed of, and no drainage needs too be considered when
installing the printer.
Superior Colour Reproduction
Dye sublimation provides rich colour reproduction with 403 dpi
resolution and 16.77 million colour processing for each dot.
Compare this to the 7-colour inkjet method which requires a
resolution as high as 4550 dpi (403x11.3) to reproduce prints
of similar quality.
Red
Magenta
Colour Reproduction Chart CLE Lab colour space
Sony Dye Sublimation Printer
Silver Halide Photo
Ink Jet Printer
* Each measurement sample is printed with
same image data
Brilliant Colour
+b*
100
80
60
40
20
0
-20
-40
-60
-80
-100
-b*
-a* -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 20 40 60 80 100 +a*
Sony Digital Photo Printer 403 dpi x 403 dpi Ink Jet Printer 4800 dpi x 1200 dpi,
6 colour Ink
ink ribbon •
thermal head •
heat • • ink ribbon
• printing paper
• ink ribbon
• paper
platen roller •
Sony Dye Sublimation Printing (with lamination) Silver Halide Photo
Sony Digital Photo Printer Full-colour prints Ink Jet Printer Only 6 colours